Remote control mechanism for sulky rakes



Oct. 27, 1942. o. c. MUSSELMA|-1v i REMOTE lCONTROL MECHANISM FOR SULKY- RAKES Fil-edMarch 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l MKM m A'r'rohNEY o. c. MUssELMAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Orr/)r Masse/ffm:

Filed March 8, 1941 A ORNEY REMOTE CONTROL MECHANISM `FOR SULKY RAKES A Octf 27, 1942.

Patented Oct. 27, 1942 L T OFFICE REMOTE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR sULKY RAKES Orrin C. Musselman, `Kaw, Okla. Applicatin March 8, 1941, Serial N0. 382,410

9 Claims.

This invention relates to sulky rakes, particularly of the type equipped` with a foot lever for holding the teeth in raking position and a trip lever for releasing' the ratchet mechanism which effects automatic raising of the teeth for dumping. These'levers are mounted upon the frame of the rake within convenient reach of the operators seat. V'In manipulating -the levers, an Operator mounts the seat and holds one foot against the rake tooth hold-down lever until the teeth have loaded with material being raked, whereupon the hold-down lever is released and the trip lever actuated to effect automatic dump of the material inl forming windrows. Such a r'ake is designed to be manipulated by the driver when therake is horse-drawn, but when a rake of this character is drawn by a tractor vehicle two operators are required, one to manipulate the tractor and the other the hold-down and trip levers on the rake. i

Therefore, the principal object of the invention is to provide the rake with means whereby the trip and hold-down levers may be remotely actuated by the driver of the tractor, thereby releasing the second man for other duties.

In accomplishing'this and other objects Of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of4 structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 1

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sulky rake drawn by a tractor and equipped with a remote control mechanism embodying the features of the present invention. g n

Fig 2 isa `sectional view through the sulky rake on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the control mechanism being shown in lposition to :engage the hold-down lever and retain the teeth in rakingposition.

Fig. 3 isa similar section through the rake showing the lever control mechanism in tripped position to release the hold-down lever and effect actuation'vof the. trip lever for'eiTe'cting auto-v matic dump of the rake teeth.v I 1 Iig. 4 is a `detail perspective view of the lever control mechanism. f

`Fig.5 isla detail section through the down latchsupporting bracketf f Referring more invdetail to the drawings: I

I ldesignates a vsulky rake including a frame 2 carried by wheels 3 and 4 in the manner of a sulkyV and provided with a tongue 5. Pivotally connected with the frame and positioned between thel Wheels is `,a bar v6 carrying 4the rake teeth l. Fixed to the :frameV 2at, approximately `the cenholdter thereof, is an operators seat wherefrom the operator'may control dumping of the rake teeth anddrivea team hitched to the tongue 5.

The teeth carrying bar 6 is provided with a yhand-lever 9 located adjacent the seat so that the operator may grasp a lever to dump the rake manually independently of an automatic dumping mechanism. Also connected with the bar 6, and extending forwardly relatively to the handlever 9, are links I0 pivotally connectedat their forward ends, as at II,v with a toggle lever I2 having its opposite end pivotally connected with the frame 2, as at I3.

The teeth 'I are retained in raking position by means of a foot lever I4 pivoted at one end to the frame'2, as at I5, so that the Opposite end extends forwardly over the toggle lever pivot I I to bear thereagainst and retain the toggle lever in depressedA position and the -teeth in raking Yposition as shown in Fig. 2, when the operators foot is placedv on a foot pedal I6 extending laterally from the forward end of the lever.

I'herake is further equipped with an automatic dumping mechanism operable by traction of'the Wheels and released by means of a lever I'I also mounted ladjacent the drivers seat and pivoted, as .at I8, to the frame 2, the lever I'I being connected by a suitable linkage I9 with the ratchet 'mechanism connecting the tooth sup.- porting' bar`6 with the wheels 3 and II.

In-manipulating the rake, the operator places his foot upon the pedal 'I6 to depress the toggle lever I2 and retain the` teeth 1 in raking position, as-shown'in Fig. 2. When it is desired' to dump the rake, `the Operator releases pressure on the pedal I6 and pushesthe trip lever I'I in a forward Idirection to effect 'actuation' of the automatic dump, whereby the teeth l are raised under traction power of the wheels and automatically released 'to return to raking position. During this movement thetogglelever will swing upwardlywith raising of the teeth, as shown in Fig. 3, and then downwardly to. the position shown in Fig. 2. The operator. will then replace Ihold-down andtrip levers, maybe manipulated repeated to dump the rake mateby the driver of a tractor when the rake is hitched thereto in place of draft animals.

In carrying out the invention, the tongue 5 extends forwardly and carries a bracket on its formost end having a collar 2l arranged with the axis thereof in perpendicular position to receive a coupling pin 22, the lower end of which has a reduced pintle 23 engaging in one of the openings 24 of the draw-bar 25 of a tractor 26. The collar 2l is adjustable vertically7 on the .pin 22 to support the tongue of the rake at the desired elevation, after which it is retained by a set-screw 21 threaded through the collar and having its shank engaging the endlof.' the pin22.v

The pintle portion 23 of the pin swivels in'` the opening of the draw-bar so that therake will.

trail the tractor.

Mounted on the side of the tongue, at azpoint-Y below the foot pedal I6, is an angle-shaped bracket 28 having a laterally extending arm 29. Extending` through;suitablyrspaced. openings 30 and:y 3l inthe arm ofthe bracket are the shanks 32? and; 33r of' eye-bolts 34 and. 35, the eyes 361and3=1of which arearrangedicoaxially to passza pivotpinorf bolt 38.. The shanks32 and 331 of the eye-bolts are. provided-:.withnuts 39' and'.v 40` arranged'. to" engageA the respectivey upper` andi` lower facespf thea army 2.9i tof. etdjust4 elevational .position-ofthe pin 38"relative1y toxtliel foot pedall 6. Pivotedon thepin 38", intermediate the eyes and' 31,.is1a 4sleever-like hub: 4|." of a latchlever 42.

The latch lever includes an upwardly: extending arm 43, having.azhookfshaped'oifset portion 44 adapted .to engage. over;y theffoty pedal I 6 and retainlit in .holddownrpositiom asshow-rr inzFig. 2. From the offset, the lever extends. upwardly and carrieshooks 45' and 45.0n. thel frontand.

rear.7 sides thereof. Connected' with the-hook 46 is one endlof a` spring 41havingits. oppositeend` secured to aq fixed part: carried upfonzthexbar: 6', for example apin. 48'. on.the=lower endv of'k the' lever 9, the. connectionzbetween: they pin` `and spring'being byauiiexiblef.chain.or.l the-like 49. When' the rakeiteeth' aredownithefspring 411-? is tensionedto retain the hookportionof the 'latch lever yieldingly in` engagement' with thefoot pedal.' Connected with'.thehook 45. is. aflexible member, such" as ai chaina50; carrying'atring 5I- to which .a cable .52iszconnected',' as indicated' at 53. The; opposite end'l of. the cable;extends-for wardly of 'theftongueand iis i attached to a xed support 54.- on theitractor. Y

It is g thus:A obviousV that( when the-r operator of the tractor: pullsronwthe cable 52, the latch leverA Inlorderto assist'lin' returning ofthe foot lever I 4` to latched` position after/dumping of` the-rake, theendthereof 'is 'connected by a' spring` 56,' hav ing itsl opposite lendfanchored in a guard 51; carried by the bracket arm 29, the guard being to preventkinking of the spring-'.-

58 designates a spring having one kvend fixed to the latchlever and itsopposite endv fixed to the arm 29v off the lever supporting bracket 23V for holding the latch lever forwardly until .the foot lever falls backto latching position..

Assuming that the rake is in operation and being drawn over a eld by the tractor, in this position the latch lever 42 is engaged with the pedal I6 of the hold-down lever and the toggle is depressed to retain the teeth in raking position. When the teeth are down, the spring 41 is tensioned to retain the latch lever yieldingly in latching position. In this position the chain 49 is taut but there is sufficient slack in the chain 55 to avoid pullon thetrip lever I1. When the operator desires to dump the rake, he will pull the cable 52 in a forward direction, causing `the latch lever 42 to disengage the foot pedal I6 against: action ofthe spring 41. Continued forward= movement removes slack from the chain 55,. and effects actuation of the trip lever I1 so that the automatic dump is effective in raising thefteeth 1. Upon raising of the teeth 1, the bar 6 swings in a forward direction, releasing tension on the latch lever by the spring 41, however, the spring 5Bis in playto'hold the latch lever inl retractive position untilv thehold-downA lever' I4 returns to normall position Yupon droppingof the'raketeeth. As the teeth. move to raking position, the bar:k liswingsV rearwardlyA to retension .the spring 41 g drawing the? latch leverv into engagement with the foot` pedal to.V retain the hold-down lever kin.p ositim'iuntil such a. time it is'againnecessary to dump the rake,where. uponethefoperations are. repeated as above described.L

From the foregoing it isf obvious that'y Iv have providedK a simple mechanismforxeffectingj remote-control of thefhold-down andtrip release levers of a sulky` rake whereby the operator of a tractor vehicle drawing the rake may actuate the. controls and eliminate the necessity; of an operatorf riding upjon. the #seat of.I the rake. Thel control mechanism. described, with slight modication, may be adapted to anyfmake'fofsulky rake as all sulky rakes are equipped with the hold-downand control -levers similar to thev rake illustrated andv described.

What" I claim and desire'tosecure'by Letters Patent is:

1. Inarake'fhaving a fram'ezandua toothy carrier" pivoted.` relative to= thev frame, meansf for: raising.` andlowering the tooth carrier.; a'- hold` down'lever. on the frame for engagingtheraising' and lowering means to hold the" tooth.l carrier in raking position, va latch lever having pivotal connectionwith the frame and provided vwith ahook portion engageablewith the hold-downlever, an arm projecting from said hook portion, ayieldable connection between said arm andlthe tooth carrier vtoholdthe hook portionof 'said'Y lever in engagement with the hold-down lever and to return said' lever responsive tolowering movement of the tooth carrier, and means connectedwith said' arm for remotely-releasing saidlatch lever fromk said yhold-down lever.

2.-v In a. rake having a'r frame,`- a tooth f carrier,- means" for` raising "andlowering the tooth carrier relative to the frame, and a holddownlever for engaging the raising and lowering means to -hold the tooth carrier in raking position, remote 'con-u trol means for said hold-down lever including a latch lever havinga hookportionengageable with the hold-.down-lever, af pivotpin supporting thelatch lever, a yieldable-.connection between the latch leverv andthe tooth carrier to returnJ the. latch lever into latching 'engagement'v with1 thehold-downlever upon lowering of fth'eftoeth carrier, means adjustably'mounting said`pi-n on'- the.u frame to, adjustthev hook portion of said-v latch lever relatively to said hold-down lever, and a cable connected with the latch lever to effect disengagement of the latch by the operator of a tractor pulling said rake.

3. In a rake having a tooth carrier, automatic means for manually raising and lowering the tooth carrier, a hold-down lever for engaging the raising and lowering means to hold the tooth carrier in raking position, a trip lever for said automatic means, a latch for retaining the holddown lever in hold-down position, a cable connected with said latch and trip lever for remotely releasing the hold-down lever and actuating the trip lever, and a yieldable connection between the tooth carrier and the latch for returning the latch into engagement with the hold-down lever responsive to lowering of the tooth carrier.

4. In a rake having a tooth carrier, automatic means for manually raising and lowering the tooth carrier, a hold-down lever for engaging the raising and lowering means to hold the tooth carrier in raking position, a trip lever for said automatic means, a latch for retaining the holddown lever in hold-down position, a cable connecting said latch and trip lever for remotely releasing the hold-down lever and actuating the trip lever, a yieldable connection between the latch and said tooth carrier for returning the latch into latching engagement with the tooth carrier responsive to lowering of the tooth carrier and for yieldingly retaining the latch in engagement with the hold-down lever, and a spring for holding the latch out of engagement with the hold-down lever during raising of the tooth carrier.

5. In a rake, a frame, a tooth carrier pivotally supported on the frame, a tongue connecting the rake with the draw-bar of a tractor, means for manually raising and lowering the tooth carrier, a hold-down lever for engaging the raising and lowering means to hold the tooth carrier in raking position, automatic means for raising the tooth carrier, a trip lever f-or said automatic means, a bracket for attachment to the tongue adjacent the hold-down lever, a latch pivoted on said bracket for retaining the hold-down lever in hold-down position, a cable connecting said latch and trip lever for remotely releasing the hold-down lever and actuating the trip lever, and av yieldable connection between the latch and said tooth carrier for returning the latch into cngagement with the hold-down lever responsive to lowering of the tooth carrier and for yieldingly retaining the latch in engagement with the holddown lever.

6. A remote control attachment for a rake having hold-down and trip levers, and a tongue for connecting said rake with a tractor, including a bracket adapted for attachment to said tongue, a latch pivoted on said bracket for retaining the 4hold-down lever in hold-down position, flexible connections secured to the latch and trip lever respectively, and a cable connected with said flexible connections for remotely releasing the hold-down lever and actuating the trip lever, said flexible connection for the trip lever having sucient slack to delay action of the trip lever responsive to pull on the cable.

7. In a rake having a tooth carrier, means for manually raising and lowering the tooth carrier, a hold-down lever for engaging the raising and lowering means to hold the tooth carrier in raking position, automatic means for raising the tooth carrier, a trip lever for said automatic means, a latch for retaining the hold-down lever in hold-down position, an operating cable, and flexible members connecting said latch and trip lever with said cable, the exible member connected with the trip lever having slack therein whereby pull on said cable actuates the latch before the trip lever is actuated.

8. In a rake including a wheel frame, a tooth carrier pivotally supported on the wheel frame, means for raising and lowering the tooth carrier, a hold-down lever for holding the tooth carrier in raking position, a trip for eifecting actuation of the raising and lowering means, a latch for retaining the hold-down lever in hold-down position, a ilexible connection secured to the latch and trip respectively, a cable connected with the flexible connections for remotelyreleasing the hold-down lever and actuating the trip, said ilexible connection for the trip having sufficient slack to delay action of the trip responsive to pull on the cable, and a yielding connection between the latch and the tooth carrier for returning the latch into latching engagement responsive to lowering movement of the tooth carrier.

9i. In a rake including a wheel frame, a tooth carrier pivotally supported on the wheel frame, means for raising and lowering the tooth carrier, a hold-down lever for holding the tooth carrier in raking position, a trip for eiecting actuation of the raising and lowering means, a latch for retaining the hold-down lever in hold-down position, a flexible connection secured to the latch and trip respectively, a cable connected with the liexible connections for remotely releasing the hold-down lever and actuating the trip, said flexible connection for the trip having sufficient slack to delay action of the trip responsive to pull on the cable, a yielding connection between the latch and the tooth carrier for returning the latch into latching engagement responsive to lowering movement of the tooth carrier, and a spring connected with the latch and acting reversely to said yieldable connection to retain the latch out of engagement during raising of the tooth carrier.

ORRIN C. MUSSEIMAN. 

